Instrument



Aug. 27, 1940a A. F. sPlTZGLAss ET A1. 2,212,652

INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 27, 1940.` A. F. sPlTzGLAss E: AL 2,212,652

z INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l r` a? Aug. 27, 1940. A. F. sPrrzGLAss ET AL 2,212,652

INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 27, 1940.

A. F. sPlTzGLAss ET AL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 1'7, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ug. 27, 1940.. A. F. sPlTzGLAss ET AL 2,212,652

INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug- 27, 1940 A. F. sPlTzGLAss ET AL. 2,212,652

INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 27*9 1940. A. F. sPiTzGLAss ET AL 2,212,652

INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ,so chart.

v30 tions in the atmospheric (i.

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STAYES man PATENT @FFCE INSTRUMENT Application September 17, i934, Serial No. 744,233

3 Claims.

This invention relates to calculating mechanism, and is illustrated as embodied in an instrument of the planimeter type for integrating a resultant value (such as total now) from a chart bearing lines or other indications of two component values (e. g., absolute pressure, and the differential in pressure on opposite sides of an orliice, as measured and recorded by a flow meter or the like) An object of the invention is to utilize in rsuch a mechanism, clear up to the final drive of the integrator indicating mechanism, a novel positive linkage, thereby minimizing errors due to slippage, etc., and giving a more accurate result. lli In the illustrated mechanism, levers pivoted at opposite ends are controlled (preferably through square-root devices, in the case of flow calculations) according to the positions of two pointers or the like used to follow the indications on the One of these levers is connected by a linkage to a lever or other means for varying the integrator indicating mechanism drive, and the efect of this linkage in varying the drive is modified by a connection from the other of the levers. Important features of the invention relate to adjusting the mechanism to calculate charts of different sizes, and for different zero and maximum positions, and to correcting the pressure controlled mechanism to compensate for variae. barometric) pressure.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including various novel combinations of parts and desirable particular constructions, will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan View of one preferred form of mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, looking from left to right in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the chart-driving mechanism and the operating linkage and certain associated parts;

Figure 4 is a similar view with the chartdriving mechanism omitted, and with certain levers extended as pointers sweeping over arcuate scales, the latter modication being merely to facilitate the description of the operation of the 50 mechanism;

Figure 5 is a. plan View corresponding generally to Figure 4 but showing only the differentialpressure parts;

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 55 5 but showing only the absolute-pressure parts;

Figure '7 is a view of a modification of one of the levers of Figure 6 and showing a means for correcting for variations in atmospheric (i. e. barometric) pressure;

Figures 8, 9, and il) are plan views, of a diagrammatic character, showing adjustments of the mechanism for diierent zero and maximum positions, and for left and right pen mountings;

Figures 11, 12, and 13 are diagrammatic plan views oi the mechanism set for a lZ-inch chart, and showing it respectively with and without the chart in Figures 12 and ll, and showing the indicator setting in Figure 13;

Figures 14, 15, and i6 are corresponding for a five-inch chart;

Figure 17 is a top plan view of a different embodiment intended for use only with a single size and design of chart, and therefore without adjustments except for the correction for variations in atmospheric pressure; and

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure i7, looking from right to left in Figure 17.

The illustrated mechanism is intended for use in integrating the flow of a Huid, for any desired elapsed time, from a chart 20 having inscribed thereon two indication lines 22 and 24. One of these lines indicates the actual pressure (i. e. the pressure above atmospheric pressure) in a conduit, and the other the difference in pressure on opposite sides of an orifice plate in the conduit. These lines are traced on the chart by a record flow meter of any of several well-known designs.

The total iiow in the pipe, or the ilow for any given time interval, can be calculated by integrating the square root of the dii'erential pressure indicated by the second line multiplied by the square root of the absolute pressure obtained by adding the atmospheric pressure to the pressure indicated by the rst line. rlhe present invention relates to apparatus for performing the above or an analogous calculation mechanically, the apparatus being preferably of the planimeter type and having an integrating device controlled jointly by pointers or the like carried by two indicator arms and caused to trace the two lines on the chart.

The illustrated apparatus is shown mounted on a suitable base 25, and includes a motor 28 controlled by a foot-operated rheostat or the 5o like and driving at synchronized speeds a rotatable chart support or table 3Q and a rotatable driving disk .52 frictionally engaging the driving wheel 34 of an integrator indicating mechanism or counter 36. The integrator indicating mecha- 55 figures nism 36 is shown mounted on a lever 38 pivoted at l5 and moved by the calculating linkage described below, radially across the driving disk 32 to vary the operation to secure the desired integrated result.

The motor 28 is shown driving a shaft l2 formed or provided with two worms 44 and 45, the latter of which drives the integrator-driving disk 32. The worm 54 drives gearing 58, partly carried by swinging links 55 so that the gears at all times remain drivably in mesh while they drive a, driven gear 52 connected to the chartdriving support 30, while the support together with the gear 52 are adjusted for different sizes of charts. The chart sizes may if desired be shown on a scale associated with the carriage 56, l

as shown in Figure 11.

In order to secure this adjustment, the support 3l! and the gear 52 are mounted on a shaft 55 carried by a carriage 56 adjusted, lengthwise of an elongated opening 58 in a stationary plate or support 55, by means such as an adjusting screw 52 operated by a suitable handle 64. The stationary support 5i? is mounted on the base'26 by means of suitable brackets 65.

The lines 22 and 25 are traced by indicators such as pointers 58 and 1|! controlled by operating handles 12 and lll. These handles move with a light frictional contact over sectors 1B and 18 between suitable stops 85, the sectors preferably being arranged at different levels as shown in Figure 3.

In Figures 1, 2, 8, 9, and we illustrate an adjustable connection between the handles and the indicators, to set them for operation on charts having different zero and maximum lines, but have omitted these adjustments in the other gures to simplify the disclosure of the essential parts of the calculating linkage.

As best shown in Figures 8 and 9 to secure the desired adjustments the handle (1.2 or 1li) forms part of a bellcrank lever having an arcuate slot 82 to provide an adjustable connection with one end of a link 85 pivoted at its other end to a lever 85. The lever 35 has a threaded lug adjustably connected by an adjusting screw 88 with a coaXially mounted lever 90 having a socket in which the indicator arm 58 (or l) is adjustably secured by means such as a set-screw 92.

As shown in Figure 10, lever 90 may be formed at its edge with sector gear teeth, so that when a chart is to be traced on its left side instead of -the right, an auxiliary lever 94 having similar teeth meshing therewith may be provided. The lever 91S also has a socket in which the indicator arm 68 may be adjustably clamped by a set-screw 96 or-the like.

A comparison of Figures 8, 9, and 10, will show `how the zero and maximum adjustments are made. With the handle 72 at the extreme limits of its movement, the adjustments 88 and 82 are so set that the arm just covers the desired angle, whether it is a large angle as in Figure 8 or a smaller angie as in Figure 9, when the handle vvis moved from one extreme position to the other.

By loosening the set-screw 92 or 96, the indicator arm 68 or 75 can be adjusted as to its effective length, for use with a larger chart (Figures 12 and 13) or a small one (Figures 15 and 16).

As the above-described adjustments have nothing to do with the operation of the calculating linkage, they are omitted in Figures 3-7. The

1 diiTerential-pressure linkage is shown diagramimatically in Figure 5, and the static pressure linkage in Figures 6 and 7, with the relationship of the two when assembled shown in Figures 3 and 4, Figure 4 being somewhat more diagrammatic than Figure 3.

When the differential-pressure handle 'hl is shifted, to cause its indicator arm 1B to follow its curve on the chart 2G, it operates a device such as a rack l meshing with a pinion |02 rigid with a square-root cam |54. The cam H14 has an edge ilange embraced between two follower-rolls |65 carried by a swinging bar |08 centrally pivoted on one arm of a bell crank lever HG fulcrumed for movement about the axis 4i! about which the levers 'l2 and 74, and 38 also turn.

As will be apparent from Figure 5, movement of lever 'M is thereby transformed into motion of the upper arm of the bellcrank |18 (as indicated along `a scale H2) proportionately to the square root of the differential pressure.

The lever 12 is connected, by means such as a link l to a bellcrank adjustment lever H6, shiftable on one end of a lever H3 pivoted at |59 along a correction scale |25 to correct for variations in atmospheric (i. e. barometric) pressure. The scale |20 is graduated in pounds of atmospheric pressure and the pointer H5 may be set thereon according to the barometric reading, the dotted line position in Figure 6 indicating how movement of the lever H5 varies the setting of the lever |25. The bellcrank H5 may frictionally engage the lever as in Figure 6, or it may be held in position by an adjusting screw |22 as in Figures 3, 4, and 7.

Lever H8 is connected by an inclined link 25 to a member |25` mounted on a pivot E28 above `the aXis 35, and the lower end of which may be regarded as a lever fulcrumed at the opposite end from the lever formed by the upper end of the bell-crank li, these two levers so formed being equal in length from their fulcrurns |28 and @Si to the pivots |40 and |35 respectively at their ends.

The angles of levers ||8 and |25, and of link 12d, are so chosen that movement of lever H8 is transformed into an angular motion of lever |25 proportionate to the square root of the actual pressure plus the atmospheric pressure. The two scales associated with lever |26, and the two associated with lever H8, in Figure 6, show how corrections on the scale for changes in barometric pressure change the entire range of movement of lever |26 proportionately.

In Figure 4, for purposes of description, the lever I8 has been .shown terminating in a pointer moving over a scale |69 which is uniformly calibrated in percent from 0 to 100 and the lever has been shown terminating in a similar pointer moving over a scale- |21 correspondingly calibrated in percent. These scales and pointers are not ordinarily employed in an actual instrument. It will be noted that the calibrations on the scale 21 are not uniform but follow approximately the square roots of the Values. This is due to the fact that the levers H3 and |26 lie at an angle to each other and are connected by the link |24.

With the levers arranged substantially as illustrated, the movement of the lever |25 is substantially proportional to the sine of the angle through which the lever H8 is moved. Since a sine curve and a square root curve substantially `correspond throughout a considerable portion of their lengths the movement of the lever |25 is H8 withinvery close limits.

We have found that almost any arrangement in which the levers are at an angle will produce a movement following very closely the square root function within a certain range of movement. One very desirable design is illustrated in which the levers liS and i2@ are oi the same eiiective length and the link 12d is slightly longer and the pivots H9 and E28 are so spaced that when the link i211 and lever 12S lie in a straight line they form an angle or" with the lever i i8. The lengths ci the links and levers are, of course, determined by the amount of space available and the amount of movement desired and will be selected for each particular design in view of these factors.

The lever formed by the upper arm of bellcrank l@ is connected by a floating pivot it@ to one end of a oating link 32. The other end of link i3?. is connected by a oating joint such as a pivot i3d to the upper end of a second link 36 connected at its lower end by a pivot E33 to the lever 3S.

The length oi link i332 equals the length of lever St from its axis to pivot 138, and the length or link E35 equals the length of lever llo from axis @il to pivot i3d. Thus parts H3, i352,

E36, and 3S form a parallelogram linkage.

The lever formed by the part of member EES extending below its fulcrum or pivot iZ is equal in length to link 136, and is connected at its lower end by a pivot MG to a link lili which is pivoted at its upper end to the iioating joint 535:. When both the levers 126 and 38 are in zero positions, pivots 38 and Mii are coaxial, parts |36, M2, and 12E are superposed, and pivots i353- and 128 are coaxial. This does not happen in use, however, as lever 26 never reaches such a zero position, its minimum position being that corresponding to atmospheric pressure (i. e. fourteen and a fraction pounds).

When levers lill and 26 are in their maximum or positions, lever 33 is also at its maximum positiomand pivots IZB and 13B are coaxial.

The parts are shown in Figure 4 with levers lli! and 3S in their Zero positions. For purposes of description the lever 38 has been shown moving over a scale 39 calibrated in percent from G to 10G but it will be understood that this scale is not used in practice, the lever 33 carrying the indicating mechanism 3G.

With the parts of the linkage proportioned and arranged as described above, the motion of lever 33 is in proportion to the product of the movements of levers l l@ and 126, and is therefore in proportion to the product of the square roots of the diierential pressure and of the sum of the measured actual pressure plus the atmospheric pressure. As the operation of device 36 is in proportion to the motion of lever 38, it will therefore integrate the product of the two square roots as the pointers tis and 'EG trace the two lines on the chart.

The operation of the multiplying linkage, and its theory of operation, are more fully set forth in our Patent No. 2,045,621 issued June 30, 1936.

Figures 17 and 18 show a simplified form of apparatus suitable for use with a single standard form and size of chart, reference characters for parts corresponding to those described above, where somewhat changed in form or arrangement, being increased by 200. The operation is the same described, except that no means is provided to adjust for diierent sizes or arrangements oi charts.

While two illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention to those particular embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A chart calculating mechanism comprising a base having an elongated opening and having a pivoted indicator member mounted adjacent o: e end of the opening, a carriage adjustably movable lengthwise of said opening and having a support for a chart associated with said member, means for driving'said support and a tracer member carried by said indicator member and adjustable to pass through the center of the chart in any of its adjusted positions.

2. A chart calculating mechanism comprising a pivoted indicator member, a carriage adjustably movable relatively to said member and having a support for a chart associated with said member, means for driving said support and a tracer member carried by said indicator member and adjustable to pass through the center of the chart in any of its adjusted positions,

3. Chart calculating mechanism comprising means for supporting and driving a chart, devices for following lines on said driven chart indicating a differential pressure and a pressure related to atmospheric pressure, mechanism controlled by said devices and integrating automatically as said lines are followed a joint function of the differential pressure and a pressure derived from said second pressure by adding the atmospheric pressure thereto, and means for adjusting said mechanism to correct for variations in atmospheric pressure.

ALBERT F. SPITZGLASS. OTTO T. HANDWERK. 

